this 'new american dream' is perhaps overly ambitious in theory or in name, but the fact remains - for us and so many others - that the idea of a pay-as-you-go method of home ownership is completely un-american, super practical, very sustainable and gives us a chance to be much more directly involved and even possibly have a surplus of time and energy for own other creative works .... all at an incredibly low cost - a kind-of house as inhabitable sculpture' approach if you will, as well as a flipping of the condition of having been 'scrapped' (scrappers have removed the plumbing and electrics) into an impetus for outfitting the house with active and passive solar features ... maybe even a composting toilet! but Mitch & Gina's POWER HOUSE PROJECT has much more on the topic of renewables - this page / site / endeavor is more focused on other more ephemeral less quantifiable experiments in taking action towards a low cost high-yield sustainable future .... YES!!!
Sarah shoveling snow - from the attic
and it was fun to watch our friend Sean tell his son 'they have snow INSIDE their house' as we showed them photos of the house
and some of the images from our new house made it into a show in Houston at a little space called the SKYDIVE
here's the pres release ...
February 12 – March 11, 2009
OPEN HOUSE - work by Sarah Wagner and Jon Brumit
curated by Sasha Dela
"Home, for us, has been re-discovered and re-invented in our hearts and minds as the multiform and frequently fugitive structural relationship between ourselves and something larger than ourselves. It is our families, each other, our cats, our friends, former houses, dorm rooms, stories, a houseboat, dreams, foods, moving trucks, our studios, vans, tents, bike bags, friends' couches, an in-progress container home, our newest $100 home in Detroit and most importantly and perhaps most constantly each other - a morphing, evolving and strengthening bond through time and space, going on 17 years as a couple. Over this time we have worked together as artists, sculptors, builders, remodelers, repair-people and most recently as designers, growing through spirited and fierce dialog, sharing dreams, visions and hope." - Sarah Wagner and Jon Brumit
northeast elevation - visualization of the front space opened up by way of demolishing the front walls and ceiling overhead
southwest elevation - same visualization of opened front space as workspace
press for this nutty adventure .... including much about Corinne, Design 99, Gina, Mitch and Zeb ... but not much about other Detroit orgs or folks also doing great work ...
so please also see: Power House Project and follow those links!!!
New York Times - For Sale: The $100 House by TOBY BARLOW
Detroit News - Detroit's hard edge -- and dirt-cheap real estate -- attract artists from around the world by Michael H. Hodges
Philly Inquirer - And you did say . . . Detroit? (reprint from NYT) by Toby Barlow
Model D - Detroit House: $100. Bold New Ideas for the City: Priceless by Walter Wasacz
NPR - In Detroit, Artists Look For Renewal In Foreclosures by Jennifer Guerra
BoingBoing - Artists buying cheap houses in Detroit posted by Cory Doctorow
Rust Wire - Cheap Homes = Prime Real Estate for Artists in Rust Belt Cities by Angie Schmitt
Michigan Public Radio - The Upside Of Foreclosures by Jennifer Guerra
ABC's 20/20 and online at abc.com - $100 House: Sad and Wonderful by Bob Brown
© brumit
